Is there something Wrong with my Dampers? XJS V12
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Is there something Wrong with my Dampers? XJS V12
While I was in the process of changing the 'Kickdown Switch' there was something about the 'Dampers' that didn't look right.
As there were Two spikes of metal with loose Washers on, that seemed to just be sticking up out of nowhere.
Please have a look at the Photos and let me know what you think this problem could be.
As there were Two spikes of metal with loose Washers on, that seemed to just be sticking up out of nowhere.
Please have a look at the Photos and let me know what you think this problem could be.
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Hi Thanks
Its hard to believe that those 'Bushes' have Compressed as much as that.
I was sort of thinking that it may have been the Springs.
Its hard to believe that those 'Bushes' have Compressed as much as that.
I was sort of thinking that it may have been the Springs.
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From: Key West, FL
I haven't really messed with the shocks on the XJS before, so I am unfamiliar with what that should look like. To me it looks like a bushing is missing completely. Even if the springs were completely toast, all that would do is allow for more compression of the shock. Even if the shock is completely compressed it still looks and mounts the same.
Do you need pics of what it should look like?
Do you need pics of what it should look like?
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I haven't really messed with the shocks on the XJS before, so I am unfamiliar with what that should look like. To me it looks like a bushing is missing completely. Even if the springs were completely toast, all that would do is allow for more compression of the shock. Even if the shock is completely compressed it still looks and mounts the same.
Do you need pics of what it should look like?
Do you need pics of what it should look like?
Thank You for the offer of Pics
They would be very useful, as I cannot leave it like this.
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Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Wisconsin
The upper bushings dry out and pretty much go flat and crumble... I had mine replaced at 31,800 miles because I felt and heard a rattle and they were falling apart. Pretty easy to do compared to all the other things that are a B****...
Last edited by XJSFan; Sep 11, 2014 at 05:07 PM.
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Thanks, that's really Cheered me up!
It looks like a Spanner and Mole Wrench Job and some of 'Gregs' Special Mixture! 50/50 Acetone/ATF.
Which are best the Rubber ones or Poly?
Its really hard to believe they can 'Crumble' like that.
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From: France
There is, OB, there is. it must be rattling like crazy. You will not believe the difference when they are fixed. Right now, not much damping is happening! This is what they should be:
At the top of the front shockers there is a multi-layer "sandwich" stack of large washers and rubber bushes. In your case the rubber bushes have collapsed, and maybe more troubles too. The layers are FROM THE BOTTOM going UPWARDS.
Greg
At the top of the front shockers there is a multi-layer "sandwich" stack of large washers and rubber bushes. In your case the rubber bushes have collapsed, and maybe more troubles too. The layers are FROM THE BOTTOM going UPWARDS.
- Shoulder on top of shocker rod (this sometimes rounds off and allows the rod to come up more than it should;
- Large round washer to support bush from underneath against the rod shoulder
- Large round rubber bush;
- Special washer that is round with a dished inner hole. This goes inner dish indent facing UPWARDS. The dished bit locates the tsack in the hole in the wing
- Second special washer that is round with a dished inner hole, this goes ON TOP of the hole in the wing (ie fitted from the engine bay, not from the underneath) inner DISH facing DOWN. This locates the stack from the top into the hole in the wing.
- Large round rubber bush
- Large round washer
- Finally, ONE nut goes onto the rod to hold the whole lot together. The nut should be tightened down to the limit to compress the whole stack.
Greg
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There is, OB, there is. it must be rattling like crazy. You will not believe the difference when they are fixed. Right now, not much damping is happening! This is what they should be:
At the top of the front shockers there is a multi-layer "sandwich" stack of large washers and rubber bushes. In your case the rubber bushes have collapsed, and maybe more troubles too. The layers are FROM THE BOTTOM going UPWARDS.
Greg
At the top of the front shockers there is a multi-layer "sandwich" stack of large washers and rubber bushes. In your case the rubber bushes have collapsed, and maybe more troubles too. The layers are FROM THE BOTTOM going UPWARDS.
- Shoulder on top of shocker rod (this sometimes rounds off and allows the rod to come up more than it should;
- Large round washer to support bush from underneath against the rod shoulder
- Large round rubber bush;
- Special washer that is round with a dished inner hole. This goes inner dish indent facing UPWARDS. The dished bit locates the tsack in the hole in the wing
- Second special washer that is round with a dished inner hole, this goes ON TOP of the hole in the wing (ie fitted from the engine bay, not from the underneath) inner DISH facing DOWN. This locates the stack from the top into the hole in the wing.
- Large round rubber bush
- Large round washer
- Finally, ONE nut goes onto the rod to hold the whole lot together. The nut should be tightened down to the limit to compress the whole stack.
Greg
Thanks, I'll get some new Shocks and did have a bit of a feeling that it wouldn't be quite as easy as I first thought.
How on earth did they miss those on the MOT! and may have been the reason why the exhaust pipes sometimes banged the underneath of the Car.
I couldn't believe it when I saw those Two Shafts sticking up, as I thought my front Springs had collapsed!
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From: Key West, FL
how can they just crumble?? They are 25 years old!!! Also the rubber used by the british back then was a different base than some other countries and it likes to come apart.
That part sees a lot of action, so ones they start to rot they get banged out pretty quickly.
I would probably get polys but to each their own. I figure the shock is doing most of the work, you just don't want it rigidly attached and pushing on its attachment posts or impacting too much. You ride will be much better either way
That part sees a lot of action, so ones they start to rot they get banged out pretty quickly.
I would probably get polys but to each their own. I figure the shock is doing most of the work, you just don't want it rigidly attached and pushing on its attachment posts or impacting too much. You ride will be much better either way
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: FL
Before you buy!
Just a heads up as I've been down this road. DO NOT use the ORANGE bushes from Jaguar. If you replace the shocks (as you may want to do) the will come with black bushes of hard rubber. If you are just going to replace the bushes make sure you use the black dense rubber ones. I bought a pair of KYB shocks
(we call em shocks here in the Colonies) on ebay for around 100USD. They made a huge difference! I'm sure you must have been hearing some clunks and thumps recently from the looks of your shock tops. They will vanish immediately!
And as a bonus, this is probably one of the easiest XJS jobs you can do with great instant results!
(we call em shocks here in the Colonies) on ebay for around 100USD. They made a huge difference! I'm sure you must have been hearing some clunks and thumps recently from the looks of your shock tops. They will vanish immediately!
And as a bonus, this is probably one of the easiest XJS jobs you can do with great instant results!
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